Hendry crashes out to McManus

Six-times champion Stephen Hendry crashed out of the SAGA Insurance Masters after a shock second defeat to fellow Scot Alan McManus.

The Perthshire potter lost four frames on the spin having led 4-2, slipping to an unexpected 6-4 loss at the hands of his Bearsden rival at the Wembley Conference Centre.

McManus, who won the title in 1994 when he beat Hendry 9-8 in a memorable final, now plays Welshman Mark Williams in the quarter-finals.

“It’s a great win to have under your belt. I always enjoy playing Stephen and feel comfortable playing him,“ said a happy McManus.

“For some reason I don’t feel under pressure. I’m probably the only one expecting myself to win against him.

“When it went 4-2 I thought he’d run away with the match, but I got some chances and took them.

“I’ve not beaten Stephen for ages, so it was great to perform out there again in the big arena.”

Hendry had previously not lost to McManus since he was beaten 5-2 at the British Open in Plymouth.

But he praised his fellow Scot for fighting back to beat him.

“He [Alan] always seems to save his best for me,” said Hendry.

“I missed a careless blue and from then on Alan was the better player.

“He always raises his game when he plays me. I don’t think I’ve had an easy game against Alan, and he deserved to win.

“I felt quite good at 4-2 up, but one careless shot has cost me.

“Obviously if I’d have gone 5-2 ahead I would have been a strong favourite, but after that shot I was, more or less, a spectator.

“I certainly felt good at 4-2 up, but Alan played really well.”

McManus is looking forward to playing Williams in the last eight, but admitted Hendry had not played his best against them in their best of 11 frames duel.

“Stephen wasn’t knocking in the long pots, which he usually does,” said McManus.

“It was a strange game to go 2-0 up, lose the next four frames, and then come back to win.”

McManus opened with breaks of 63 and 54, but runs of 47, 72 and 77 saw Hendry to edge two frames clear.

It should have been 5-2 but a bad miss let McManus jump in to pocket breaks of 99 and 52 to secure victory.